An RAF mission to airlift those Britons stranded in Eritrea amid the growing conflict with Ethiopia also beat a ceasefire deadline.

Ethiopia agreed to hold off any more attacks on the Eritean capital Asmara to allow international missions to evacuate foreign nationals.

Tense day of waiting

The BBC's Kathy Jenkins reports on the British evacuation

The RAF C-130 Hercules transport plane took off from RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire, for Eritrea.

It stopped for refuelling on Crete before arriving in the Eritrean capital on Saturday night.

Soldiers from the Royal Marines, carrying light weapons, guarded the aircraft for an hour while marshalling the evacuees and providing protection.

It finally then took off again at 2300BST and arrived in Jeddah after a 90 minute flight.

Britons have remained - despite the violence

The 44 Britons were joined by around 60 Canadians, Australians and South Africans, some of them children, fleeing the fighting.

The British flight to safety was joined by similar missions carried out by other countries which aimed to beat the 0500 BST (0400GMT) ceasefire deadline, bringing the total number of westerners airlifted out of the country to 500.

Every seat on every flight was taken up, though some foreigners, including Britons, have chosen to stay in Eritrea.

Praise for Consul

British Honorary Consul Stephen Burgess was also on the RAF flight, only a week after he took up his post in Eritrea.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman praised how Mr Burgess had organised the safe evacuation of the Britons amid the conflict.

"He has done an excellent job liaising with the Eritrean authorities and passing on advice to British nationals," said the spokeswoman.

US plane took British evacuees

"He has worked round the clock to ensure the safe evacuation of British nationals."

A US transport plane evacuated a further 21 Britons to Oman, the Foreign Office said.

Defence Secretary George Robertson praised the RAF crew and Royal Marines who took part in the operation.

Mr Robertson said: "I am very proud of the way this Hercules crew and Marines have put their training and skills into such effective use in order to protect our citizens overseas."